Data sharinghttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/8380/all
enAT&T Reworks Family Plan to Stay Competitive with T-Mobilehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/att_reworks_family_plan_stay_competitive_tmobile
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/att_mobile_share_value_plans_620px_0.png" alt="AT&amp;T Mobile Share Value plan" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>The nation's second-place wireless carrier proves that it can still shock and awe by introducing new contact-free family plans that are actually cheaper than rivals while offering more data in some cases.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=25237&amp;cdvn=news&amp;newsarticleid=37411&amp;mapcode=consumer|wireless" target="_blank">AT&amp;T announced Saturday</a> that it's not letting go of families looking to switch to T-Mobile US or another carrier just to get their monthly wireless bill reduced, with new, less-expensive <a href="http://www.att.com/mobilesharesavings" target="_blank">Mobile Share Value plans</a>.<br /><br />Starting at $130 per month for two lines, the plans include 10GB of mobile hotspot-compatible shared mobile data plus unlimited talk and text, which AT&amp;T claims is $10 per month less than a comparable T-Mobile plan.<br /><br />To get the savings, AT&amp;T customers need to bring their own device, pay full retail price for a smartphone or sign up for the carrier's AT&amp;T Next early upgrade plan, which offers a new device every year (with trade-in of your current hardware) for $0 down -- that's right, there is no two-year agreement to be found here.<br /><br />Best of all, the new Mobile Share Value plans are available to existing customers, even if they're in the middle of an existing contract. In our particular case, we reduced our three-line family plan bill by $45 per month just by switching -- and went from 4GB of shared data per month to 10GB in the process.<br /><br />Until the end of March, AT&amp;T customers can also receive a $100 bill credit just for adding a new line of service to their Mobile Share plan -- which can be a smartphone, feature phone, wireless home phone, mobile hotspot or even a tablet, which can be added for $10 per month.<br /><br />It will be interesting to see how T-Mobile responds to this new challenge -- as a longtime AT&amp;T customer who has been pondering a switch to T-Mo, this new plan will have me staying put for now, especially when up to 10 smartphones can be added for only $15 per month each.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/att_reworks_family_plan_stay_competitive_tmobile#commentsNewsAT&TAT&T Nextcontract-freedataData sharingDiscountsearly upgradesMobile ShareT-Mobile USwirelessiPadiPhoneMon, 03 Feb 2014 14:00:00 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19220 at http://www.maclife.comMonday Recap: AT&T Mobile Share on August 23, Pixelsync, Nano-SIM Trayhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/monday_recap_att_mobile_share_august_23_pixelsync_nanosim_tray
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/att_mobile_share_planner_200px.png" alt="AT&amp;T Mobile Share Planner" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />So how about that YouTube app? With Apple confirming that YouTube isn't being invited to the iOS 6 party, it certainly appears Cupertino is working hard to ditch as much of Google as humanly possible from its mobile OS. Thankfully, iOS 5 seems as if it will be safe, so if you've got an older device or no plans to upgrade right away, you can keep 'Tubin' the same way you have been. Meanwhile, here's what else is making headlines for this Monday, August 6, 2012.</p><h3>AT&amp;T Mobile Share Plans Available Starting August 23</h3><p>Carrier data sharing is becoming all the rage, and today <a href="http://blogs.att.net/consumerblog/story/a7783220" target="_blank">AT&amp;T announced that its own Mobile Share Plans will light up on Thursday, August 23</a> after being teased last month. To help make the transition to a single pool of wireless data, the carrier has posted a Mobile Share Planner tool on its website -- simply add up to 10 devices, estimate how much data each of them uses, and AT&amp;T will recommend the best Mobile Share Plan for you. Our own family plan doesn't stand to save all that much from AT&amp;T's new plans, but for folks with higher mobile data consumption, this could be a great way to take a whack at your AT&amp;T Wireless bill before the kids head back to school.</p><h3>Pixelsync Developer Throws in Towel Due to Aperture, iPhoto Changes</h3><p><a href="http://pixelsyncapp.com/blog/the-future-of-pixelsync/" target="_blank">Developer Bart Jacobs has announced on his blog</a> that his iPad app <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pixelsync/id409409239?mt=8" target="_blank">Pixelsync</a> is closing up shop due to significant under the hood changes in the latest Aperture 3.3 and iPhoto 9.3 releases. The app was a great way for amateur or pro photographers to access their photo libraries to allow rating, color labeling or tagging right from the iPad -- until the new versions threw a monkey wrench into the works. After struggling to rectify the problem, Jacobs today wrote: "The bad news is that the problem is not temporary. Based on my findings, I have come to the conclusion that Pixelsync will not be able to support Aperture 3.3+ and iPhoto 9.3+. Aperture and iPhoto have changed significanlty under the hood and this has resulted in permanently breaking the interoperability with Pixelsync." The developer recommends that users who purchased Pixelsync after June 11, 2012 request a refund through the App Store, and the app is currently available free for those still running older versions of Aperture or iPhoto.</p><h3>Next iPhone Nano-SIM Tray Revealed?</h3><p><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2012/08/06/claimed-sim-tray-for-next-generation-iphone-points-to-nano-sim-standard/" target="_blank">MacRumors is reporting</a> that Apple's new nano-SIM has turned up online again, giving us a good look at what the tiny card's tray might look like in the next iPhone. French website Nowhereelse.fr shared a peek at the images, which compares the current iPhone 4S micro-SIM against the presumed nano-SIM tray, which doesn't appear significantly smaller when viewed from above, but is clearly more narrow when stacked on top of the current tray. Given how fast August is already flying by, we may not have long to wait, with numerous reports claiming the new iPhone could be announced as early as September 12.</p><h3>Boinx Software Offers FotoMagico 4 Public Beta</h3><p>If you're looking to bring a little pizazz to your photo slideshows, you've probably discovered Boinx Software's FotoMagico for Mac. But the company isn't exactly resting on its laurels, <a href="http://boinx.com/fotomagico/beta/" target="_blank">announcing a new public beta for the upcoming FotoMagico 4</a>. "The latest upgrade to Boinx Software’s slideshow software adds support for multiple layers, a new timeline for fine-tuned control over slides, improved audio syncing, and many additional updates for a sleeker and more intuitive user experience," the company announced in a press release last week. And even better, Boinx is inviting its users to give it a test drive, absolutely free! Simply head to the FotoMagico 4 beta website, enter your name and email and Boinx will email you with download instructions and a temporary license key. The developers aren't saying when the latest version will be available, but presumably by everyone pitching in on the public beta, it will be sooner rather than later.</p><h3>Report: Apple Will Update All iOS Products with New Dock Connector</h3><p>Don't get excited: That existing iPhone, iPod touch or iPad you currently own won't magically be getting a new, slimmer dock connector come fall. However, <a href="http://www.imore.com/apple-roll-new-dock-connector-out-across-ios-product-lineup" target="_blank">iMore is now following up its earlier report</a> about the smaller port by claiming that Apple will refresh its entire iOS product line at the launch event, which is expected on September 12. While a new iPhone is a given and rumors have been swirling about a 7-inch iPad and refreshed iPods, presumably this means that the existing third-generation iPad will also be released with the slimline dock connector rather than waiting for the next major release in the spring. It makes sense that Apple would want to make the transition as painless for users as possible, while a small adapter will take away the pain for the rest of us stuck with older devices.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/monday_recap_att_mobile_share_august_23_pixelsync_nanosim_tray#commentsNewsAT&TBoinx Softwaredaily recapData sharingdock connectorFotoMagicoipad appMobile Share Plannano-SIMPixelsynciPadiPhoneMacMon, 06 Aug 2012 21:22:57 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14730 at http://www.maclife.comAT&T Announces Mobile Share Plans, Coming Late Augusthttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/att_announces_mobile_share_plans_coming_late_august
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/att_mobile_share_chart_200px.png" alt="AT&amp;T Mobile Share" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />It's not much of a surprise, especially now that rival Verizon Wireless has already introduced their own service, but AT&amp;T has finally made good on its promise to introduce shared data plans -- and won't be forcing current customers to use them if they don't want to.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-gives-customers-more-choice-with-new-shared-wireless-data-plans-162841576.html?ispopup=y" target="_blank">AT&amp;T announced on Wednesday</a> the introduction of <a href="http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/data-plans.html#fbid=3vZG2NRSvHw?tab2source=EC0000PP100000JD" target="_blank">AT&amp;T Mobile Share</a>, a service which allows new and existing customers to "share a single bucket of data across smartphones, tablets and other compatible devices," all while enjoying unlimited talk and text.<br /><br />If that sounds familiar, it's because competitor Verizon Wireless already beat Ma Bell to the punch by introducing their own version of this scenario, which ultimately wound up being kind of a ripoff for many customers.<br /><br />AT&amp;T Mobile Share is available for both individual or family plans and the carrier is not requiring users to switch to the new plans, but should they choose to, it will not extend their existing contract. The same will apply to customers to are eligible for device upgrades, and business customers can also enjoy data sharing plans as well.<br /><br />"We offer customers a broad choice and the best lineup of plans, now enhanced by Mobile Share," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&amp;T Mobility. "With these new plans, the more you share, the more you save. They'll be a good fit for a variety of new and existing customers. But if customers want to stay on their current plan or choose from our existing plans, they can do that, too. It's their choice."<br /><br />Like Verizon, AT&amp;T Mobile Share plans include tethering (aka Personal Hotspot) as well as unlimited domestic calls and text messages for both smartphones as well as basic phones.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/att_mobile_share_pricing.png" alt="AT&amp;T Mobile Share pricing" width="620" height="152" /><br /><br />AT&amp;T has provided a handy chart which demonstrates how Mobile Share might benefit its customers. Smartphone users can save by increasing the size of the data pool, coming in as low as $30 per month on top of 10GB of data; laptop data cards are $20, while tablets can be added for $10 per month.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/data-plans.html#fbid=3vZG2NRSvHw?tab2source=EC0000PP100000JD" target="_blank">AT&amp;T Mobile Share</a> will be available in late August and also includes access to the company's more than 30,000 Wi-Fi Hot Spots across the U.S.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/att_announces_mobile_share_plans_coming_late_august#commentsNewsAT&TAugustdata bucketData sharingMobile Sharepersonal hotspotsmartphonesunlimitedVerizon WirelessiPadiPhoneWed, 18 Jul 2012 11:51:03 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14581 at http://www.maclife.comVerizon Beats AT&T to the Punch, Introduces “Share Everything” Planshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/verizon_beats_att_punch_introduces_%E2%80%9Cshare_everything%E2%80%9D_plans
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/verizon_logo_sharing_200px.png" alt="Verizon logo" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Both AT&amp;T and Verizon Wireless have been teasing shared data plans for months, but it looks like Big Red has beaten Ma Bell to the punch, today announcing its new “Share Everything” plans which allow data sharing between up to 10 devices.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2012/06/pr2012-06-11e.html" target="_blank">Verizon Wireless announced new Share Everything plans</a>, which promise to “forever change the way customers purchase wireless services.” Instead of having to purchase data plans for multiple mobile devices, the new plans allow users to share a bucket of data among up to 10 devices -- as well as unlimited voice minutes, text, video and picture messaging.<br /><br />“Customers asked, and today Verizon Wireless delivered an industry first,” said Tami Erwin, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.&nbsp; “Share Everything Plans are the new standard for wireless service. They are simple; customers no longer have to think about their voice and message plans, because both are unlimited. Share Everything Plans are convenient; customers purchase one data plan and they share it with up to 10 mobile devices. And, they are worry-free; customers can connect their 3G or 4G devices wherever and whenever they want on America’s most reliable network.”<br /><br />Of course, the devil’s in the details, as the saying goes. First you’ll pay a monthly line access fee per device: $40 for smartphones, $30 for basic phones, $20 for hotspots or other data devices and $10 for tablets. From the sound of things, tablets can be added or removed from the account at will “with no long-term contract requirement”; the iPad isn’t specifically mentioned, so we’re assuming it’s included for now.<br /><br />Then, customers choose how much data they want, starting at $50 for 1GB and topping out at $100 per month for 10GB. (The company also has separate plans available for basic phones as well as data-only devices.)<br /><br />The good news is that Verizon’s Mobile Hotspot feature is included with each plan -- no more extra fee for that privilege. On the flip side, unlimited data customers will lose that feature if they switch -- although the carrier doesn’t plan to force such users to do so at this time.<br /><br /><a href="http://solutions.vzwshop.com/shareeverything/?intcmp=VZW-VNT-SE-PLANRECMND" target="_blank">Verizon’s Share Everything plans launch on June 28</a>, and the carrier has <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverythingcalculator" target="_blank">an online calculator available</a> to see if the new shared plans are right for you. Your move, Ma Bell…<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/verizon_beats_att_punch_introduces_%E2%80%9Cshare_everything%E2%80%9D_plans#commentsNewsdata plansData sharingplansShare Everythingshared datatabletsverizon ipadVerizon iPhoneVerizon WirelessiPadiPhoneTue, 12 Jun 2012 12:38:01 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14303 at http://www.maclife.comFriday Recap: Nokia Cash Burn, T-Mobile on Data Sharing, iTunes Festival 2012http://www.maclife.com/article/news/friday_recap_nokia_cash_burn_tmobile_data_sharing_itunes_festival_2012
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/itunes_festival_jack_white_2012_200px.png" alt="iTunes Festival 2012: Jack White" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Another weekend is here, and it’s sure starting to feel like summer. After delaying a new iPhone until October of last year, Apple is surprising us again by shifting its annual iTunes Festival music event in the U.K. from July to September, but don’t worry: There should be plenty of summer fun coming from Cupertino, most likely in the form of OS X Mountain Lion and new Macs. In the meantime, keep up with all of the day’s highlights for this Friday, May 18, 2012.</p><h3>Report: Nokia Burning Through Cash at “Unsustainable Rate”</h3><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/18/us-nokia-cash-idUSBRE84H0BD20120518" target="_blank">Reuters is reporting</a> that Finnish cell phone giant Nokia could burn through its existing stockpile of cash in two years at the rate it’s currently spending, assuming its recent gamble with Windows Phone doesn’t pay off. “Over the past five quarters, the onetime darling of mobile telecoms has eroded its cash pile by 2.1 billion euros ($2.7 billion),” the report reveals -- and with only 4.9 billion euros in reserve, the clock appears to be ticking for Nokia. Analysts now expect the company to burn through an additional two billion euros in the next three quarters, while the most pessimistic analysts believe it could happen as early as next year. Back in 2007, Nokia had more than 10 billion euros on hand -- ironically, the same year that Apple unleashed its game-changing iPhone, which has disrupted the business models of old-school companies like Nokia and Research in Motion. While Nokia’s new Lumia handsets have garnered praise from customers and critics alike, analysts consider them “too little, too late” to stop the bleeding -- and many believe Microsoft could be the company’s “white knight,” should the worst come to pass.</p><h3>T-Mobile: Just Say No to Family Data Sharing Plans</h3><p>Family data plans may be forthcoming from AT&amp;T and Verizon Wireless this summer, but T-Mobile seems to have a completely different attitude about them. <a href="http://blog.t-mobile.com/2012/05/18/family-data-plans-not-a-one-size-fits-all-approach/" target="_blank">The T-Mobile Issues &amp; Insights Blog today announced</a> that the fourth-place U.S. carrier has no plans to offer shared data plans for families, questioning the overall value of such a move. “But would this approach actually deliver a better value to consumers?” the company asks. “Do families really want to keep track of each others’ data consumption? We don’t think so. Just imagine mom’s email is suddenly unavailable because her teenage son watched an HD movie on his phone, consuming the family’s data allotment.” Not a bad point, and T-Mo goes on to point out that their data plans are more “flexible and affordable” than the competition, while unlimited data plans take the surprise out of consumers’ bills. It will be interesting to see if the Magenta Network has a change of heart, depending on how these plans pan out for the big boys first.</p><h3>iTunes Festival Kicks Off 30 Nights of Free Music September 1</h3><p><a href="http://www.itunesfestival.com/" target="_blank">Apple has announced its iTunes Festival plans for 2012</a>, and while the month-long free concert event remains in the United Kingdom, the calendar has shifted from July to September. This year’s event will be held at The Roundhouse in London, with five acts confirmed thus far, including Usher (who kicks things off on September 1), Jack White (Sept. 8) and Norah Jones (Sept. 10). While the tickets are free, they’re dispersed through a lottery system and only available to residents of the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. However, video of the performances will be streamed live to iTunes on the desktop <a href="http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=23708&amp;a=1884404&amp;epi=website&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fapp%2Fid431168066%3Fmt%3D8%26partnerId%3D2003" target="_blank">or though a free iTunes Festival app</a> -- which is currently U.K. only, but other streaming options are promised for August.</p><h3>Samsung Racks Up 9 Million Galaxy S III Preorders, But Not from Users</h3><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/18/us-samsung-idUSBRE84H00X20120518" target="_blank">Reuters filed an interesting report this morning</a> which claimed that Samsung had racked up “some nine million preorders for its third-generation Galaxy S smartphone from more than 100 global carriers.” Did you catch that last part? <a href="http://www.loopinsight.com/2012/05/18/samsungs-bullshit-galaxy-pre-order-numbers/" target="_blank">As noted by The Loop</a>, that impressive figure is not units actually sold to consumers, but rather devices being shipped to carriers, many of which could wind up sitting in a warehouse somewhere while they wait to find a home. Now before you accuse us of Android bashing here, we’re sure plenty of those Galaxy S III handsets will find loving homes eventually, but it’s kind of a cheat for Samsung to tout such huge numbers this early in the game, don’t you think?</p><h3>PDF Expert 3 for iPhone Adds Audio Notes, Embedded Video</h3><p>Readdle announced the availability of <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/id323133888" target="_blank">PDF Expert 3.0 for iPhone</a> this week, a significant update to the handheld version of the $9.99 professional PDF document reader. The latest version for iPhone and iPod touch adds the ability to sign documents, create audio notes and attach them to documents, play embedded video from inside a PDF, revise and stamp documents using stamps and seals, preview files using a “shelf view” mode and even organize or find documents instantly with the new sorting panel. If all of that isn’t enough, Microsoft SkyDrive users can access their files right from the app as well. PDF Expert for iPhone 3.0 is available now and as always, a free update for existing owners.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/friday_recap_nokia_cash_burn_tmobile_data_sharing_itunes_festival_2012#commentsNewsApple Music Eventdaily recapData sharingfamily plansiTunes FestivalnokiaPDF ExpertreaddleSamsungT-MobileiPhoneFri, 18 May 2012 21:48:08 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14102 at http://www.maclife.comWednesday Recap: Verizon Killing Unlimited Data (Again), Retina MacBook Costshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/wednesday_recap_verizon_killing_unlimited_data_again_retina_macbook_costs
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/verizon_4g_lte_200px.jpg" alt="Verizon 4G LTE" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Still rocking grandfathered unlimited data through Verizon Wireless? Better enjoy it while it lasts, because the carrier plans to drive a stake through its heart when Big Red makes the switch to family data plans this summer. Should make good fodder for Sprint’s future marketing, since they continue to be the only U.S. carrier offering truly unlimited data plans. Meanwhile, here’s the rest of what’s making news for this Wednesday, May 16, 2012.</p><h3>Verizon Plans to Kill Grandfathered Unlimited Data When Data Sharing Arrives This Summer</h3><p><a href="http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizon-will-kill-grandfathered-unlimited-data-plans-push-users-data-share/2012-05-16" target="_blank">Fierce Wireless is reporting</a> that grandfathered unlimited data plans may soon go the way of the dinosaur, at least if Verizon Wireless CFO Fran Shammo has anything to say about it (and sadly, he does).&nbsp; Speaking at the J.P. Morgan Technology, Media and Telecom conference this week, Shammo explained that as its 3G data customers migrate to 4G LTE, Verizon will require data sharing plans that will not be compatible with the faster speeds, nor sharing between multiple devices. The move is part of the carrier’s plan to shift to a “revenue per account” metric, rather than the current model which measures individual users’ data usage. With shared data plans in the works for mid-summer, there’s likely to be a lot of unhappy veteran users longing for the unlimited data days…</p><h3>Retina MacBook Screens Could Cost Apple $100 More</h3><p><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57434966-37/retina-macbook-screens-already-here-and-pricey/" target="_blank">Cnet is reporting</a> that the Retina Display screens everyone assumes will soon find their way to the MacBook line could be a pricy endeavor for Apple -- almost $100 more, judging from component costs of 15.4-inch display panels already in the supply chain. The real question becomes, will Apple eat those costs or pass them on to Mac users in the form of increased prices? "What's clear is that Apple's pushing it. They're pushing panel makers to come out with higher resolution panels because they've created a market demand for it, starting with their phones, now going to their tablets," explains NPD DisplaySearch senior analyst Richard Shim. "Now what we're seeing in the supply chain is that they're going to move that to their notebooks, and it's becoming a premium feature." Apple currently spends $68 for the display panel of a 15-inch MacBook Pro, but that figure is estimated to balloon to $160 if and when the rumored Retina upgrade arrives. Would you be willing to fork over the extra dough, if push comes to shove…?</p><h3>Sprint CEO Claims iPhone Will Pay Off in 2015</h3><p><a href="http://allthingsd.com/20120516/sprints-hesse-well-make-money-on-the-iphone-eventually/" target="_blank">AllThingsD is reporting</a> that Sprint will likely continue to bleed red ink where the iPhone is concerned for three more years. That’s because the carrier made a whopping $15.5 billion commitment to Apple’s iconic handset over a four-year period -- meaning the company won’t make a profit from the iPhone until 2015. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse doesn’t seem too concerned, despite having to take a $3.25 million pay cut this month to appease investors unhappy with the deal. “We believe in the long term,” Hesse explains. “And over time we will make more money on iPhone customers than we will on other customers.” Assuming, of course, the third-place carrier can make it that long.</p><h3>Samsung Sheds $10 Billion Market Value Thanks to Apple Rumors</h3><p>If you’ve ever wondered just how fragile the stock market can be, look no further than a new DigiTimes rumor claiming that Apple recently placed a huge order for DRAM chips with Japanese firm Elpida -- and dealt a fatal blow to Samsung’s market value in the process. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/16/us-samsung-chips-idUSBRE84F0BT20120516" target="_blank">According to Reuters</a>, the rumor -- whether it’s true or not -- sent shares of Samsung Electronics Co. down more than six percent on Wednesday, “wiping $10 billion off the electronics giant’s market value” all at once. "It looks like Apple doesn't want to see Samsung and hynix dominate the chip market,” remarks Choi Do-yeon, an analyst at LIG Investment &amp; Securities. “Apple wants to maintain its bargaining power by keeping Elpida running.” Japan’s Elpida is currently running under bankruptcy protection as it attempts to restructure due to “tough market conditions and global competition.” Perhaps Apple just wants to level the playing field after watching Samsung continually ape its smartphone and tablet products?</p><h3>iStoryTime Offers Free Storybook App for Teacher Appreciation Month</h3><p>Did you know May is Teacher Appreciation Month? Makes sense, since this is the last month most students are in school before the summer vacation -- and their minds are probably on anything but studying. To celebrate the occasion, the folks at iStoryTime are offering their <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kung-fu-panda-2-storybook/id436082346?mt=8" target="_blank">Kung Fu Panda 2 storybook app</a> absolutely free through Sunday, April 20. Kung Fu Panda 2 is perfect for engaging children’s creativity and encouraging them to read in a variety of languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, German, French, Portuguese, Russian and Korean, so teachers and students across the globe may enjoy the adventures of Po. “Teachers are our super heroes,” said Woody Sears, founder of iStoryTime. “They are the foundation of our children’s education and we are extremely humble in honoring teachers worldwide by offering our Kung Fu Panda 2 storybook for free.” Hey, we just like the sound of free apps, but kudos to iStoryTime for recognizing the heroes, too.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/wednesday_recap_verizon_killing_unlimited_data_again_retina_macbook_costs#commentsNewsdaily recapData sharingistorytimeMacBookretina displayRumorsSamsungSprintunlimited dataVerizon WirelessiPhoneMacWed, 16 May 2012 20:09:41 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14083 at http://www.maclife.comPublishers Pleased To See iPad Subscribers Opting To Share Datahttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/publishers_pleased_see_ipad_subscribers_opting_share_data
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220907/time_0.jpg" alt="time" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />As more publishers begin to trickle in allowing for subscriptions to their publications on Apple's iPad, a new report from <em>Forbes</em> sheds light in that it wasn't so much a concern about profit that caused the delay.&nbsp; It was about whether or not customers would be willing to share data.&nbsp; <br /><br />According to the report, publishers were initially fearful that iPad subscribers would refuse to voluntarily share their name and address, raising discontent with Apple's opt-in policies.&nbsp; The report mentions though that "fear that Apple's policies would deny them the consumer data they need to do their business was unfounded."<br /><br />Mark Edmiston of iPad publisher Nomad Editions was cited as having heard of a figure being floated around by other publishers that in actuality, 50% of users were opting-in to share data, so he went right to Apple vice president of internet services Eddy Cue, for confirmation, which Cue did provide.<br /><br />"So, all the sudden," notes Edmiston, "what was an insurmountable obstacle no longer is."<br /><br />If that was the lone hurdle, it will surely be interesting to see if more publications make their way onto the iPad!<br /><br /><em>via <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/05/11/publishers_relieved_to_see_half_of_ipad_subscribers_opt_in_to_share_data.html">AppleInsider</a></em><br /><em><br />Follow this article's author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mtilmann">Matthew Tilmann on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em>(Image courtesy of ipad-review.co.uk)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/publishers_pleased_see_ipad_subscribers_opting_share_data#commentsNewsData sharingiPadpublisherssubscriptionsiPadThu, 12 May 2011 02:25:50 +0000Matthew Tilmann10926 at http://www.maclife.com